Display device



y 6, 1958 T. c. CAIRNS 2,833,069

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 21. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V INVENTOR. THOMAS CCH lP/VS T. C. CAIRNS DISPLAY DEVICE May 6, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJune 21, 1954 INVENTOR. THO/4:45 C. CAIRNS United States Patent DISPLAYDEVICE Thomas Christie Cairns, Anchorage, Ky., assignor to Lawrence C.Howe, Birmingham, Mich.

This invention relates generally to display equipment and refers moreparticularly to improvements in a sign type of display designed foroutdoor use. g

It is an object of this invention to provide a display especiallyadapted to illustrate posters or the like and having provison foreffectively protecting the posters from the weather.

It is another object of this invention to provide a display of the abovetype wherein the posters or display matter is not only completelyprotected from the weather but, in addition, is capable of being readilyinterchanged when desired.

-The foregoing as well as other objects will be made more apparent asthis description proceeds especially when considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a display device embodying thefeatures of this invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on theplane indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig ure 1; V

' Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 ofFigure 1;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view through the display device showingthe closure for one side of the latter in an open position;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the of Figure 5; and V t Figure 7is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 3. I 7 vThe displaydevice forming the subject matter of this invention comprises a casing10, preferably formed of sheet metal, and having a top wall 11, a bottomwall 12, end walls 13' respectively connectingopposite ends of the topwall 11 to the corresponding ends of the bottom wall 12, a rear wall 14and a front wall 15. The rear wall 14 has an opening 16 therethrough andthe front line 6-6 wall 15 has a corresponding opening 17 therethrough.

The opening 16 in the rear wall 14 is normally closed by a closure 18and the opening 17 in the front wall 15 is normally closed by a closure19. The two closures 18 and 19 are identical in construction and adescription of one will sufiice for both.

With the above in view, reference is made more in detail to Figure 3 ofthe drawings wherein the closure 19 is shown as comprising a panel 20and a frame 21 encircling the marginal portions of the panel 20. Thepanel 20 may be formed of any suitable material but, in the interests ofsimplicity in manufacture, it is shown herein as formed of a moldableplastic material, and the frame 21is preferably formed of sheet metalsections capable of being rolled or otherwise fashioned with relativelysimple equipment. In any case, the panel 20 is of suificient size tooverlie the front wall 15 of the cas- ,ing at the outer side of thelatter and thereby form a closure for the access opening 17 at the frontof the casing 10.

The frame 21 comprises cooperating parts 22 and 23. The part 22 extendscompletely around the marginal portion of the panel 20 and has a flange.24 which overlies the outer side of the panel 20 adjacent the marginaledge of the latter. The flange 24 projects beyond the marginal edge ofthe panel 20 and is return bent to provide a double thickness of metal.The return bent portion is turned inwardly to provide a thermal flange25 which extends around the casing 10.

The part 23 has a flange 26 arranged in opposed relationship to theflange 24 and positioned to engage the inner side of the marginalportion of the panel 20. The flange 26 is turned inwardly to provide aflange 27 which is return bent to receive the flange 25 on the part 21and is secured to the flange 25 to provide an integral unit. The part 23of the frame 21 is omitted at the bottom of the frame 21 and the flange25 of the part 22 is secured to the bottom wall 12 of the casing 10 bysuitable hinges 28 rendering it possible for the closure 19 to be swungto an open position so that .access to the interior of the casing may behad through the opening 17. A gasket 29 of resilient material such forexample as rubber is cemented or otherwise secured to the outer face ofthe front wall 15 of the casing 10 to provide aweathertight seal betweenthe closure 19 and the casing 10 when the closure is in its closedposition. The closure 19 is normally held in its closed position by apair of quickly' releasable latches 30 respectively supported on the topwall 11 of the casing 10 adjacent opposite ends of the latter. Eachlatch comprises a bracket 31 secured to the top wall 11 of the casing 10and a latchingelement 32 pivoted by a pin 33 intermediate the endsthereof on the bracket 31. The arrangement is such that when the latch30 is in its operative position with respect to the closure 19 shown inFigure 3 of the drawings, the element 32 extends outwardly beyond theframe 21 at the top of the latterandthe outerend of the element32overlies .the outer side of the frame 21. A roller 34 is mounted on theouter end of the element 32 in a position to engage the outer side ofthe frame 21 and block swinging movement of the closure 19 to its openposition. The roller'34is yieldably urged into engage.- ment with theframe 21 by a spring 35 having one end connected to the outer end of theelement 32 and having theother end connected to the inner end of theelement 32. As shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, thespring 35. ismounted in such a manner that the line of action of this spring movesacross the pivot pin 33 as the element 32 is swung 'between its latchedand its unlatched positions. Thus,.the spring 35 serves a .dual purposein that it not only holds the element 32 in its latched position but, inaddition, functions to move the element 32 to its ,unlatched position inresponse to initial manual movement of the element 32 toward itsunlatched position.

As shown particularly in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings, the centralportion of the panel 20 is oflfset. in an outward direction to provide ahousing 36 having a transparent outer wall 37. In cases where the panel20 is formed of a translucent or opaque plastic material, the outer wall37 is preferably formed of a clear plastic and inserted into the panel20. On the other hand, in cases where the panel 20 is formed of a clearplastic material, the inner surface of the panel 20 with the exceptionof the wall 37 is rendered opaque or translucent by applicationof alightreflecting paint. In any case, the inner surface of the transparent wall37 forms an abutment for a display poster 38 which may be readilyinserted within the housing 36 in the open position of the closure 19and is held in place by suitable clips 39.

The clips 39 are pivoted on brackets 40 which are bonded or otherwisesecured to the inner surface of the top wall of the housing 36 at spacedpoints. The clips 39am engageable rwith a transparent backing :plate 41supported within the housing at the inner side oftthe poster 38Thebottom edge of the backing plate41 is held in placelbyfixed clips.42secured ,to the innersurface ofthe bottom wall ,ofthe housing 36 atspacedpoints.

The housing 36 of -a depth to locate the poster 38 a sufiicient distancelaterally outwardly from the joint from the poster 38 into the interiorof the casing 10.

The bottom wall 12 of the casing 10 is fashioned with openings 44through which the drainage water may escape from the casing 10.

As previously stated, the closure 18 is identical in construction to theclosure 19 and the same reference numerals are used to indicatecorresponding parts. The means for releasably holding the closure 18 inits closed position comprises latches which are also identical to thelatches 30 previously described in connection with the closure 19."Hence, the same reference numerals employed in connection with thelatches 30 are used to designate corresponding parts of the latchesforthe closure 18.

Housed within the casing 10 midway between the closures 18 and 19 isasupport 45 for a plurality of electrically operated lilluminating tubes46. The purpose of the tubes 46 is to illuminate the interior of thecasing 10 and permit the .display posters 38 to be readily viewedthroughthe transparent walls 37 of the housings 36. Suitable openings 4are provided in the walls of the casing 10 to provide for thecirculationof air through the casing.

It is apparent from the above that the display is of a designrenderingit possible to readily change the posters 38 when desired by merelyswinging the closure members to their open positions with respect to thecasing 10. It will also be noted that although ready access to theposters 38,is provided for, nevertheless, damage of the posters 38bymoisture-is definitelyprevented, so that the display may be used outof doors without adverse effects.

What I claim asmy invention is:

1. A display device comprising a casing having an opening through oneside thereof, a closure for saidside comprising a panel having amarginal portion engageable with the adjacentside of said casing aroundthe opening therethrough and defining therewith the joint between saidclosure and easing, said panel having the portion thereof encircled bysaid marginal portion offset laterally outwardly relative to said casingto provide an inwardly opening housing, said housing having atransparent outer wall portion spaced laterally outwardly of the jointbetween said closure and adjacent side of the casing, means hingedlyconnecting said closure to said casing permitting swinging movement ofsaid closure relative to said casing between open and closed positions,a display sheet removably supported withinthe confines of said housingat the inner side of said outer transparent wall portion and spacedlaterally outwardly from the joint between said closure and adjacentside of said "casing, support means to support said display, and a watershed .integral with and projecting inwardly from said panel across saidjoint and through the opening in said side ofthe casing above thehousing extending for the full length of the housing to direct moistureescaping through the joint. between the top of the closure and adjacentside of the casing in a direction away from the display sheet.

2. A display device comprisinga casing having an opening through oneside thereof, a closure for said side ,comprising a panel having amarginal portion engageable with the adjacent side of said casing aroundthe opening therethrough and defining therewith the joint between saidclosure and easing, said panel having the portion thereof encircled bysaid marginal portion offset laterally outwardly relative to said casingto provide an inwardly opening housing, saidhousing having a transparentouter wall portion spaced laterally outwardly of the joint between saidclosure and adjacent side of the casing, means hingedly connecting saidclosure to said casing permitting swinging movement of said closurerelative to said casing between open and closed positions, a displaysheet removably supported withinthe confines of said housing at theinner side of said outer transparent wall portion and spaced laterallyoutwardly from the joint between said closure and adjacent side of saidcasing, support means to support said display, and a Water shed carriedby and projecting inwardly from said panel across said joint and throughthe opening in said side of the casing above the housing extending forthe full length of the'housingto direct moisture escaping through thejoint between the top of the closure and adjacent side of the casing indirection away from the display sheet. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS688,595 Coe Dec. 10, 1901 1,758,714 Owens May 13,1930 1,792,635 GropperFeb. 317, 1931 2,029,221 Burgesset a1 Jan.'28, 1936 2,581,727 SoplataIan. 8, 1952 2,602,252 Shinn Julyf8, 1952 2,626,473 Howenstine Jan. 27,1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 430,673 Great Britain June 24, 1935

